American Modern Artist, 1885-1979

Academic works 1903-12

Prior to World War I, Biehle traveled from Ohio to Europe twice in order to further his art education. Most of these works are from his years in Munich, Germany, at the Kunstgewerbeschule as well as the Royal Academy of Fine Art (1903-1905 and 1910-1912).

Chronology with Photos

This timeline with photos illustrates major milestones in August Biehle's life. His grandson, Frederick Biehle, lovingly compiled it from the family archive.

Studio Works 1921-54

Despite his daily work as a commercial artist, August Biehle used every spare moment to draw or paint in his art studio on the second floor of his family home.

Early Works 1912-19

After his return from Europe to Ohio, Biehle settled into work as a commercial artist, illustrating posters and advertisements. This was known as lithography because the process involved drawing on a lithographic stone.

Meanwhile, he joined the Kokoon Arts Club, a group of Bohemian artists.

Ohio Landscapes 1919-38

Along with other artists, August Biehle regularly visited both Berlin Heights and Zoar, Ohio, to draw and paint the rural landscape.

Abstractions 1952-79

In his later years, Biehle embraced abstraction, but according to Rotraud Sackerlotzky : "Biehle's diagonal lines . . . neither shatter the objects nor do they penetrate them."